Analysis Of The Crucible And A Scene, Which Had Dramatical Effect

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Introduction

Analysis Of The Crucible And A Scene, Which Had Dramatical Effect The Crucible was first produced in 1953 during the McCarthy political 'witch-hunt'. The Crucible is governed around, the corrupted degeneration of society during this sombre period. Arthur Miller saw many parallels in this period with the 'witch hunt' in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Most significantly the na�ve yet extremely unjust accusations, the forced confessions and ultimately the growth of such a diminutive event into mass hysteria. These witchcraft trials were classic examples of mass hysteria, resulting in the hanging of countless reputable People on the, charges of transactions with the devil. The people who convicted them were as upright as themselves. These convictions were largely based on the evidence of young girls who had been caught dancing in the moonlight and laid their dissipated behaviour to the influence of Satan. Innocent people are accused and convicted of witchcraft on the most absurd testimony, the testimony of those who themselves meddled in witchcraft and are therefore doubly to be distrusted. Descent citizens who sign petitions attesting to the good character of the accused friends and neighbours are thrown into prison as suspects. ...read more.

Middle

The literary techniques miller uses (reading as opposed to following a production) are not entirely successful. The frequent use of double negatives and changing verb tenses, make the play difficult to follow. Along with the language the themes Miller has used make this play successful. Miller gradually (but poignantly) interludes each theme with another. He does this so covertly; it is difficult to notice when one theme ends and another begins. This skill makes the play easy to follow and comprehend yet still have a strong meaning and purpose. The themes include; the inevitable failure of the individual versus authority, the effects of fear, integrity, the corruption of power & justice and also the growth of mass hysteria. All of these topics are incredibly prominent in modern day society. This makes the whole context of the play easy to explore and easy to relate to, and thus makes the relevance of the play to modern day society, very considerable. Act 2, scene 1, has notable dramatical impact. It involves John Proctor, a sensuous, independent and a somewhat reputable man, is attempting to converse with Elizabeth, his wife. She is strong perceptive but also very repressed. ...read more.

Conclusion

The sheer frustration experienced by the audience as a result of the highly tense situation, makes this scene so powerful. Both of their anxious attempts to converse and also to act impervious to John's history, fail. A strong feeling of hope and then gradually sorrow at the situation, become embedded in the audience. The pace of this scene very much regulates the tension created. In terms of pace, it is slow yet measured and extremely defined. This produces frequent intensifying and declining tensions &strain on this scene. The pace provides the underlying structure on which, the tension operates. The pressure gains momentum as each segment of the conversation develops; this tension will then reach a peak. This forces the characters to pause. It is during this pause in which the tension will begin to decrease. A new segment will then begin to develop and so on. These waves of tension have made this scene so dramatically successful, the audience sub-consciously follows these waves, and that produces tension in them selves. In the context of the play, as a whole, this scene is vital, as it is the only scene, with such well strung pace and pressure. This scene, very strongly, introduces the exact personalities and states of mind of John and Elizabeth Proctor, (two of the main characters) are in. ...read more.

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